One of Canada’s largest distributors of white lapel poppies says the Covid-19 pandemic is making it harder to spread its alternative Remembrance Day message. “Orders are certainly down overall,” Teresa Gagné of Vancouver Peace Poppies (VPP) told Redaction Politics. “Our school orders are down significantly.” Founded by Gagné and her partner Denis Laplante, VPP encourages Canadians … Continue reading White poppy wearing Canadians look to broaden meaning of Remembrance Day →

American folk music is best remembered as a staple of 1960s counterculture. But its popular origins date back to the ‘40s and ‘50s, when musicians like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Sis Cunningham used their voices, guitars, and banjos to spread unapologetically socialist messages to their audiences. These three folk artists, and many more like … Continue reading Red scare in the music scene – ‘The Folk Singers and the Bureau’ by Aaron J. Leonard →

The Democratic Socialists of Canada are reporting continued growth despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic and criticism from some on the political left. Founding member Joe Roberts told Redaction Politics the DSC has recruited more than a thousand members since forming in January and has established chapters in Montreal, Toronto, London, Calgary, and Victoria. There … Continue reading Democratic Socialists of Canada pushing for change to help ‘every single person that’s living in Canada’ →

Few people have as many associations with armed conflict as Oliver Stone. Born a year after the end of the Second World War, he grew up the only child of an American army veteran and French war bride. After volunteering for active service in 1967, he did a 14-month combat tour in Vietnam, during which … Continue reading Confronting the lies inherent in war – ‘Chasing the Light’ by Oliver Stone →

A grassroots coalition of Canadian peace activists will mark the October 2 International Day of Non-Violence with a protest demanding the federal government cancel plans to spend up to $19 billion on 88 new fighter jets. “We are expecting to have about 50 actions across Canada,” Emma McKay, a Montreal-based anti-militarism organizer who uses they/them … Continue reading Peace activists to protest as Canada plans to spend billions on new fighter jets →